The Maelstrom Saltstraumen, near Bodø, Norway: August 2017

Text and images (c) Robert Barry Francos / 2018
Photos can be made larger by clicking on them

A few miles from Bodø, Norway, are the Saltsraumen, which is the strongest maelstroms (whirlpools) on earth. It happens twice a day as the time goes in and out. Normally a calm water, the mixing of the currents in a relatively narrow  passages causes the water to become agitated and swirl around.

Our hosts' house is directly across from it, and you can see the arching bridge that spans over it from their deck, as you can see in the first picture, taken from that spot. We drove over and got there just as it was starting, with little swirls that reminded me of the reaction to an oar marking its path through the water. We started on the south side of the bridge (Saltsraumen Bru), and then drove over the bridge to the other, which has a path right down to the waterfront.

There were a few people there in the cantilever box girder bridge's shadow, including a couple of them fishing. The area around it seemed quite bucolic and peaceful, in the midst of such watery chaos.

The bridge from across the Saltfjorden bay.

 South side of the Bridge:

Crystal clear water

Weird bubbling fungi, here and below

From the North Side, walking towards the bridge, to the waterfront.





There are many houses and barns in Norway that have "green" roofs.

The Harbor of Bodø, Norway: August 2017

Photos and Images (c) Robert Barry Francos / 2018
Photos can be made larger by clicking on them

Bodø is considered the port city that is the start of the Northern half of Norway. While many of the buildings are pretty new due to Nazi bombings, the harbor is filled with all kinds of boats, a fort across the bay, and a beautiful view of the downtown coastline. Many hotels, businesses and a modern library sit on the edges, with stunning views from the windows and towards the buildings themselves.

After I saw this, I had Jacques Brel in my head all day.

You can see some of the Nyholmen skanse fort in the background .

This jelly fish (and below) was more than a foot acros

A better view of Nyholmen skanse

This rusty anchor was under the green lighthouse, on the far side.

The Stormen Library is a beautiful example of modern architecture.
The pictures below were taken from the second floor window.